10th Annual Smart Growth Awards show Long Island's progress

600 Long Island leaders celebrate progress for our downtowns by honoring a dozen people, projects and policies; “Failure is NOT an option”

The 10th Annual Smart Growth Awards took place on Friday, June 17th from 11:30am to 2:00pm at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. With over 600 people in attendance from diverse sectors, a keynote speech by NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, a dozen Award presentations and News 12 Long Island’s Drew Scott acting as spirited emcee, the luncheon was a jam-packed and positive event that highlighted the progress that the region has made over the last year for the Smart Growth movement.

NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, himself a 2003 honoree, gave a poignant keynote speech on the importance of prioritizing infrastructure and utilizing local solutions. Long Island is a great place but faces significant challenges, he explained, including limited land, environmental challenges and transit connections. “Infrastructure upgrades must be at the top of our to-do list,” he said. New York State needs somewhere in the ballpark of $250 billion for infrastructure improvements and, unfortunately, spending over the past several years has been targeting the wrong things. Because of this poor planning and an emphasis on building new infrastructure instead of repairing and expanding existing infrastructure, the state has not been helping municipalities. This is where the new Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act comes into play. DiNapoli floated the idea of a state infrastructure council to assess infrastructure needs and prioritize them in alignment with the new law. “In 2011, Smart Growth is not a radical concept,” said DiNapoli. We have people power on Long Island to create local, Smart Growth solutions. DiNapoli went on to thank Vision for their leadership in building the support for Smart Growth projects around the region. DiNapoli was presented with an honorary Smart Growth Award following his speech, in recognition of all the work he has done over the years to support Long Island.

Drew Scott of News 12 Long Island introduced each of the honorees, each of whom had a video clip played and were given the opportunity to come on stage for a short acceptance speech. This year’s honorees were: New York State Senator Carl Marcellino and New York State Assemblyman Sam Hoyt for regional leadership through the NYS Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act; Town of Babylon Supervisor Steve Bellone for Wyandanch Rising, Mayor Paul Pontieri for housing in the Village of Patchogue, Adrienne Esposito of Citizens Campaign for the Environment for open space, John Durso and Roger Clayman of the Long Island Federation of Labor for transportation, Kelly Douglas of West Islip High School and Jim Rhodes of Dowling College for youth leadership, Caithness Long Island Energy Center, Bishop Harrison Hale of Cornerstore Church of God in Christ, the Atlantis Marine World’s Hyatt Place in Riverhead, the Glen Cove Piazza project by Jobco Realty & Construction, Westbury Theater Project by Lowe Properties, and the Town of Brookhaven for the Portion Road Land Use Plan for Lake Ronkonkoma & Farmingville.

Empire State Future’s Peter Fleischer spoke briefly on behalf of the Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act, as he was heavily involved in passing the law, and Senator Marcellino and Assemblyman Hoyt were stuck in Albany.

Congratulations to this year's distinguished honorees:

Regional Leadership: Hon. Carl Marcellino, NYS Senate and Hon. Sam Hoyt, NYS Assembly for the NYS Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act

This year’s Regional Leadership award went to New York State Senator Carl Marcellino and New York State Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, who were recognized for their work in advancing the New York State Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act. The Infrastructure Act will reverse municipally-funded suburban sprawl by targeting infrastructure investments into existing downtowns. Senator Marcellino of Long Island and Assemblyman Hoyt of Buffalo have both served as sponsors for the bill and have been working on Smart Growth policy reform for over a decade.

Watch the video herE

Creating a Mix of Uses: Supervisor Steve Bellone, Town of Babylon, Wyandanch Rising

The award for Creating a Mix of Uses went to Town of Babylon Supervisor Steve Bellone for his Wyandanch Rising project. This project incorporates housing, retail, office, open space, traffic calming, sewer infrastructure and more, to help create a vibrant, revitalized Wyandanch. The plan emphasizes transit-oriented development around the Wyandanch LIRR Station, along with a traffic calming program. Bellone has served as Babylon’s Town Supervisor since 2001 and has been nationally recognized for many of his environmental and community revitalization programs.

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Range of Housing Types: Mayor Paul Pontieri, Village of Patchogue

Marianne Russo of the Village of Patchogue CDA, Village of Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri and Lori-Beth Devlin of the Village of Patchogue Trustee

This year’s Range of Housing Types award went to Mayor Paul Pontieri from the Village of Patchogue. Mayor Pontieri has facilitated many developments to help revitalization in Patchogue. Such projects include high-quality places for all generations and income levels to live. From Artspace to New Village, Copper Beech to River Walk and more, Mayor Pontieri is an exceptional advocate for revitalization in his community.

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Open Space & Environment: Adrienne Esposito, Citizens Campaign for the Environment

Adrienne Esposito, Tara Bono and Maureen Murphy of Citizens Campaign for the Environment

For Open Space and Environment, the award went to Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, for her work on a variety of issues relating to the environment and Smart Growth. She has taken incredible strides to increase sewer funding for Long Island’s downtowns, promote clean air, water and other important environmental issues and has served as a leader with the Long Island Lobby Coalition. Esposito is a strong and vocal advocate who always fights for the public interest.

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Transportation: John Durso and Roger Clayman, LI Federation of Labor

John Durso, President, and Roger Clayman, Executive Director, of the LI Federation of Labor were honored this year in the Transportation category for their tireless work to help maintain and increase transit service. Durso and Clayman have been at the forefront of the fight to save Long Island Bus and have been partners various transit-oriented development and infrastructure projects. Durso and Clayman frequently attend press conferences and public hearings for developments on Long Island. Durso and Clayman are fierce advocates for large-scale develpment and transit services for workers and citizens of all ages.

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Youth Leadership: Kelly Douglas, West Islip High School and Jim Rhodes, Dowling College

A new category this year, Youth Leadership recognizes students making a difference in their schools and communities now while showing great promise for the future of Long Island. Kelly Douglas, a senior at West Islip High School, and Jim Rhodes, a junior at Dowling College, were recognized for their voices for the Smart Growth movement on Long Island. Both are passionate about creating vibrant downtowns that will attract and keep young people on Long Island, which must include affordable housing, transit-oriented development, a strong business environment and entertainment venues.

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Clean Energy: Caithness Long Island Energy Center

Caithness' Ross Ain and Town of Brookhaven Councilwoman Connie Kepert

This year’s Clean Energy award went to Caithness Long Island Energy Center. The plant, which commenced commercial operations in August 2009, provides clean, reliable energy to Long Islanders and will help spur economic growth. The project includes an extensive community benefits package which will help areas surrounding the plant, as well as a series of scholarship, internship and job shadowing programs.

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Revitalizing Communities: Bishop Harrison Hale, Cornerstone Church of God in Christ

Bishop Hale and his team

For Revitalizing Communities, Bishop Harrison Hale of Cornerstone Church of God in Christ was recognized for The Harrison Hale Community Educational and Resource Center and Community Café. This new community center is a major focal point of Gordon Heights and helps residents of all ages. Students can get homework help and everyone in the community is now guaranteed one hot meal a day. Bishop Hale has also served as a strong partner in the Gordon Heights visioning project, which was adopted by the Town of Brookhaven in April 2011.

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Compact Design: Atlantis Marine World’s Hyatt Place, Riverhead

(right) Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter and Bryan DeLuca of Atlantis Marina World

The Compact Design award went to Atlantis Marine World in downtown Riverhead for the construction of a Hyatt Place Hotel, exhibit gallery and catering hall. This project will build on underutilized properties adjacent to the existing aquarium and will result in more visitors and employees infused into downtown Riverhead. The expansion also includes a café, business center, marina and flexible meeting and banquet space within the catering hall and gallery.

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Sense of Place: Glen Cove Piazza, Jobco Realty & Construction

Michael Puntillo, Jr. of Jobco and City of Glen Cove Mayor Ralph Suozzi

Jobco Realty & Construction received a Sense of Place award for their creation of Glen Cove Piazza, a mixed-use development will create a vibrant, walkable Smart Growth community and enhance quality of life for residents. The design of the piazza, located in downtown Glen Cove’s Village Square, resembles historic European plazas, which place a major emphasis on walkability and public space.

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Sense of Place: Westbury Theater Project, Lowe Properties LLC

(left to right) Neal Hoffman of Hoffman Grayson, Westbury Mayor Peter Cavallaro, Mike Vandrei of Hoffman Grayson, Cyrus Hakakian of Lowe Properties, Dan Deegan of Forchelli Curto Deegan Schwartz, Andrew Zucaro of Zucaro Construction and Vision's Eric Alexander

For creating a Sense of Place, Lowe Properties, LLC was honored for their Westbury Theater Project. The revitalization of the historic theater will serve as an anchor for downtown Westbury, helping draw in new visitors and creating a vibrant, walkable community. The Westbury Theater first opened in 1927, but eventually shut its doors due to the increase in local multiplex cinemas. Lowe Properties acquired the property in 2004 and decided to restore the theater. Construction began in October 2010 on the project that will have positive effects on the community.

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Certainty and Predictability: Town of Brookhaven, Portion Road Land Use Plan for Lake Ronkonkoma and Farmingville

Brookhaven Councilwoman Kathy Walsh and George Schramm of the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Association

The award for Certainty and Predictability went to the Town of Brookhaven for their Portion Road Land Use Plan for Lake Ronkonkoma and Farmingville. This project was developed through an extensive community-based visioning process and will allow many Smart Growth projects to advance. The Land Use Plan was approved by the Town in 2009 and sets goals for creating strong downtown centers and residential neighborhoods. New construction will focus on pedestrian safety and break from suburban sprawl. It promotes mixed-use development, walkability, public spaces and community character.

Watch the video herE

Throughout the event, Vision’s Eric Alexander covered Vision's and the region’s progress throughout the year. He also gave a last-minute push for attendees to support the NYS Complete Streets legislation, which would make roads safer for all users. To date, 5 Towns on LI have passed local laws (Babylon, Brookhaven, Islip, North Hempstead, and Southampton), so it is time to pass a statewide bill before the legislative session ends this week.

He closed the luncheon with an emotional call to those who are involved in or watching the Smart Growth movement. We may get caught up in details of the number of housing units or regulatory hurdles, but in the end we must remember that what we’re doing is all about people. Our land use impacts how we interact with one another and how we live our day-to-day lives. Planning livable, walkable, Smart Growth communities is about bringing people together and enhancing quality of life.

In honor of a decade of Awards, we would like to highlight the Hall of Famers - places who have had the most Awards over the years: Glen Cove leads the pack with 6, Riverhead with 5, Bay Shore with 4 and Freeport, Mineola and Patchogue tied for three. This year’s 15 honorees were chosen from 45 submissions by a nominating committee that included past award recipients.

Here's what folks are saying about the 2011 Smart Growth Awards:

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli: “Vision Long Island and the recipients of this year’s Smart Growth Awards are leaders in the struggle to address blight, affordable housing, environmental protection and economic growth. These groups and individuals are on the front lines of that struggle, working to revitalize Long Island's community centers and  preserve the shorelines, waters and open spaces that are so crucial to our economy and quality of life."

Town of Babylon Supervisor Steve Bellone: “I am honored to receive this recognition from Vision Long Island, a true leader in the promotion of sustainable growth in the region. In the Town of Babylon we are very proud of the Wyandanch Rising initiative, and feel it can serve as a model for community revitalization using Smart Growth principles throughout Long Island. The advancement of the Wyandanch Rising initiative is only possible with the participation and hard work of numerous individuals and organizations and Vision Long Island has been a valued partner throughout the entire process."

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer: “Vision Long Island has helped to encourage and promote a more livable, environmentally friendly, and economically sustainable future through the development of transportation, housing, and energy choices. I applaud Vision Long Island for their hard work, which is an inspiration to all Long Islanders and New Yorkers."

Congressman Tim Bishop: “I applaud Vision Long Island’s continued work to promote the smart growth we need to create jobs and preserve our quality of life. This year’s winners demonstrate that there is a bipartisan commitment at all levels of government to smart growth principles."

NYS Senator Carl Marcellino: "I'd like to thank Vision Long Island for presenting me with this award. It is truly an honor and a privilege to get it. I understand fully the award is based on the passage of the Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Act. That act is just another word for plan your communities wisely: Use the basics of our community, use the infrastructure of our community. Use mass transit and use it wisely. Plan the community around the ability of people to get where you want them to get without using cars. We'd like them to be able to have communities they can walk in. We'd like to have mass transit near the business community so it is accessible. This bill will be the start and the base of this kind of action."

NYS Assemblyman Sam Hoyt: "I'd like to thank Vision Long Island for honoring me with your 2011 Smart Growth Award. I've been advocating for the establishment of Smart Growth laws here in New York for years. I consider the bill that was finally signed into law last year to be one of the biggest legislative accomplishments of my career. That said we have a long way to go before we can declare victory. I think our challenge in a time where dwindling resources are available from government and there is little appetite for new taxes is to package smart growth in such a way that is not only about improving the quality of life for millions of New Yorkers, but that is also about lessening the tax burden for those New Yorkers as well."

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano: “I look forward to partnering government with the private sector and community leaders to develop the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and the property that surrounds it.  This property has laid to waste rather than generate revenue for the County, and its redevelopment can ultimately help hold the line on property taxes and create jobs and opportunities. With the help of Smart Growth we will plant the seeds needed to grow a sports-entertainment destination while redeveloping Nassau County."

Eric Alexander, Executive Director of Vision Long Island: “Vision Long Island is thrilled to highlight the accomplishments of our honorees for the 10th Annual Smart Growth Awards. This year’s recipients are a unique group of inspiring individuals and projects, well-deserving of the 10th Annual Awards. Given the economic challenges that our region faces these projects and leaders need our collective support – failure is not an option. Progress is at hand on Long Island: a robust segment of the development community is building Smart Growth projects across the region. Over the last five years, nearly 5,000 units of multi-family housing following the Smart Growth form have been approved, with over 4,000 adjacent to train stations. And despite front page news of rampant NIMBYism, 29 of the 34 TOD projects approved over the last five years had no community opposition. This is a testament to many of the folks who understand and appreciate working with local communities”.

Elected officials in attendance included: NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos, Nassau County Legislator Norma Gonsalvas, Nassau County Legislator Judi Bosworth, Suffolk County Legislator Kate Browning, Nassau County Legislator Wayne Wink, Suffolk County Legislator DuWayne Gregory, Suffolk County Legislator Ed Romaine, Suffolk County Legislator Tom Cilmi, Town of Babylon Supervisor Steve Bellone, Town of Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter, Town of Brookhaven Councilwoman Connie Kepert, Town of Brookhaven Dan Panico, Town of Brookhaven Councilwoman Kathleen Walsh, Town of Hempstead Councilman Ed Ambrosino, Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, Town of Islip Councilwoman Trish Bergin-Weichbrodt, Town of Islip Councilman Steve Flotteron, City of Glen Cove Mayor Ralph Suozzi, Village of Freeport Trustee William White, Village of Freeport Trustee Jorge Martinez, Village of Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri, Village of Patchogue Trustee Lori Devlin, Village of Westbury Mayor Peter Cavallaro, Gerry Petrella of Office of  U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, Kristen Walsh of Office of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, New York Power Authority Chairman Richard Kessel and Former NYS Assemblywoman Ginny Fields.

The Smart Growth Awards is one of two primary Smart Growth events held on Long Island each year. In November, over 900 Long Island leaders will reconvene for the 10th Annual Smart Growth Summit, a full day of work sessions designed to advance the Smart Growth movement on Long Island.

The event journal is also available online here.

Special thanks to our videographers, Them Media. Watch all of the honoree videos on our YouTube page.

View the article on the event at Newsday.

Thanks again to all our event sponsors!

Town of Babylon Supervisor Steve Bellone and Dr. Elena Zolfo of Dowling College / Ryan Lynch of Tri-State Transportation Campagin, Suffolk County Legislator Ed Romaine, Tom Cilmi and John Durso and Roger Clayman of Long Island Federation of Labor

Bazeel Walters Porter of Trejo Action Network, Suffolk Legislator Dwayne Gregory / Citizens Campaign for the Environment's Adrienne Esposito and Peter Scully of the NYS Department of Enviornmental Conservation

Eric Alexander of Vision Long Island and Suffolk County Legislator Tom Cilmi / Village of Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri and Debra Howes of AECOM

Philbert Robertson Hicksville Chamber of Commerce and Jorge Martinez of American Transit Insurance / Denise Carter of Greenman Pederson with Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos

NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, Marge Rogatz of Community Advocates, Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Dot Goosby and LI Federation of Labor's Roger Clayman / Bob Scheiner of H2M, Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter and Bryan DeLuca of Atlantis Marine World

Stan Kobin of the Hicksville Community Council, Silvana Diaz of Noticia, Patrick Lespinasse of Verizon and Eric Alexander / Angela Powers of the New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce

Town of Broohaven Councilwoman Connie Kepert, Liz Krolik-Alexander of the Office of Councilwoman Kepert and David Berg of the American Planning Association- LI Chapter / Bishop Harrison Hale of Cornerstone C.O.G.I.C. and Richie Kessel of NYPA

Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter, LI Federation of Labor's John Durso, Cindy Mardenfeld of Infinity Public Relations and Eric Alexander / Vision Long Island President Ron Stein, Drew Scott of News 12 Long Island and Eric Alexander

Dan Deegan of Forcelli Cutro Deegan Schwartz, Bob Fonti of LI Business Council / Vision Long Island's Tara Klein, ThemMedia's Karen Harding, Eric Alexander and Andrew Zucaro of Zucaro Construction

Vinnie Mentar of JP Morgan / Steven Schanker and Mark Hochberg of Schanker & Hochberg

Karen Harding of ThemMedia, Susan Feifer of TRI / Laura Schultz of Residents for a More Beautiful Manhasset, Leone Baum of the Hempstead Chamber of Commerce and Marilyn Urso of the LI Board of Realtors

Members of the Verizon team / Peter Fleischer, Empire State Future and Peter Waldt of Cushman Wakefield

Wayne Edwards, Glen Cherveny of Jobco Organization and Trey Wehrum of PS&S / Bill Barrett of Greenman Pederson, Kathy Eiseman of Nelson & Pope and Mayer Horn of Greenman Pederson

Silvana Diaz of the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce and Brenda Aguilar of the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce / Dick Koubek of Jobs with Justice and Alex Latham of ADL III Architecture

Dawn Hopkins of the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Association, Former NYS Assemblywoman Ginny Fields and Pat Duffield of the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Association / John O'Connell of Herald Community Newspapers

Village of Freeport Trustee Jorge Martinez / Long Island Business Council's Rich Bivone

Eric Alexander, Donna Martini of the Nasau County Planning Commission and Elena Zucaro of Zucaro Contstruction / Bob Fonti of Vincent James Management, Joy Squires of the NYS Commission of Conservation, Vision Long Island President Ron Stein, Sustainability Institute at Molloy College's Beth Fiteni, Empire State Future's Peter Fleischer, Sustainability Institute at Molloy College's Neal Lewis, Citizens Campaign for the Enviroment's Adrienne Esposito and Vision's Eric Alexander

Save the Date for the 10th Annual Smart Growth Summit on Friday, November 18th!